H2 (manga)

H2 is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mitsuru Adachi. It was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 1992 to 1999, with its chapters collected into 34 tankōbon volumes. The series is a high school baseball drama focusing on the lives and relationships of four key characters: Hiro Kunimi, Hideo Tachibana, Haruka Koga, and Hikari Amamiya.

The story revolves around Hiro and Hideo, two incredibly talented baseball players who end up at different high schools. Hiro, believing a childhood injury prevents him from pitching effectively, joins a school with no baseball club and starts an informal team. Hideo, deemed a prodigy, attends a prestigious school known for its strong baseball program. The rivalry between the two drives much of the narrative.

Haruka is the manager of Hiro's informal team, acting as a crucial support system. Hikari is Hideo's childhood friend and girlfriend, adding another layer of complexity to the characters' relationships and ambitions.

H2 is known for its characteristic Adachi style, which blends sports action with romance, comedy, and character-driven drama. The series explores themes of friendship, competition, love, and the challenges of pursuing dreams. It received an anime adaptation produced by Group TAC that aired from 1995 to 1996. A live-action television drama adaptation also aired in Japan in 2005. H2 is widely regarded as one of Adachi's most popular and critically acclaimed works.